Master swordsman coming to Lake Oswego

Sekiguchi Komei Sensei, grand master of the samurai sword, will be giving a clinic in Lake Oswego, Saturday through Tuesday at the former Palisades Elementary School building, 1500 SW Greentree Ave. in Lake Oswego.

Komei Sensei is the 21st grand master of the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai Jutsu, a system of the samurai sword that is 450 years old. He is in direct line from the first grand master of the discipline in the 16th century.

Joining Komei Sensei will be Shimizu Nobuko Sensei. She teaches the Naginata (pole and sword).

The clinic is being coordinated by Sonoko and Chad Beers, Lake Oswego residents who are students of the grand master.

“We hope this will take in Lake Oswego,” Chad Beers said. “This is our first-ever public event. We’ll see how it goes. Our goal is to have twice as many people next year. We want to have it every year.” The public is welcome to visit and observe, free of charge, at all eight sessions.

Beers noted that these skills must be taught by the grand master himself in person. Books and DVDs are only supplements to his personal instruction.

Sessions are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. all four days of the event.